Americans stuck in Peru unable to return home after state of emergency declared due to COVID-19

LOS ANGELES - Hundreds of Americans are trying to get back home from Peru. The U.S. government has cleared them to come back but they're still not being allowed to travel.

Police guard the airport in Lima, Peru. Every international flight was canceled after the Peruvian government declared a state of emergency to fight the coronavirus.

"It has banned travel in and out of Peru by air, land, and sea," said Will Rayner who is currently stuck in a Lima hotel room with a group of other Americans, mostly from California.

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The hashtag #stuckInPeru is trending on social media, with hundreds sharing their stories of being stranded.

"The U.S. is not helping us at all. Other countries have come, sent in humanitarian planes, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Israel. We have not been getting answers or help," said stranded American Hannah Rodriguez.

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They say they've reached out to federal, state and local leaders.

"I want to be back with my family and friends so I can hopefully take care of them and be in the same space," said Sean Stewart who remains stranded in Peru.